Despite a solid final season in juniors, Ethan Gauthier dropped a few notches in this season’s rankings.
NameEthan GauthierPositionRight WingAge (as of October 1)20Height/Weight6’0″, 183 lbs.Expected 2024-25 TeamSyracuse CrunchDraft – Year, Round2023 Round 2 (37th overall)Previous Rankings4th (2023), 5th (2024)JustinG. Ranking7Final Rank7
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Our Thoughts:
Honestly, it’s hard to believe that Ethan Gauthier is only 20-years-old. It feels like we’ve been talking about him forever. The good news is that we will finally see what he can do on a full time basis as a professional as he is set to play a huge role for the Syracuse Crunch this season.
He made his debut last year, appearing in three regular season games and one playoff game for the Crunch without recording a point. After re-watching the games this summer, it’s apparent that Gauthier will play in the NHL at some point. After a somewhat slow start to his professional career, he looked really comfortable by his third game and was starting to generate some offensive looks. It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see him make a bid for the Lightning in training camp, but his relative youth and inexperience will likely work against him.
Gauthier plays a really solid game. There isn’t a lot that is outstanding, but his attention to detail is extremely strong and he usually makes the smart play as opposed to risking things and chancing a turnover. One thing that was noticeable as he grew more comfortable at the AHL level was his willingness to engage contact and go into corners for the puck.
Offensively, he didn’t get on the board during his short stint, but based on his scoring in juniors (241 points in 245 games) he should be okay in that department, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him out up 40-50 points in his rookie year. He’s likely to be more of a set-up guy than a finisher, but he’s not afraid to play in front of the net for tips and deflections.
His skating is fine, and once he gets going he can be pretty quick on his feet, but it did seem that it takes him a few strides to get up to top speed. Gauthier’s ability to read plays and anticipate the action does help offset that a little, but as the competition grows, it will be something to keep an eye on.
It’s a little rough to say that last season was a waste for him, but out of all of the prospects that are in the Lightning organization, he would have benefited most from being able to spend his age-19 season in the AHL. He had achieved pretty much everything he could in junior hockey by the end of the 2023-24 season. The good news is that he didn’t let it affect his game as he put up 62 points (25 goals, 37 assists) in 50 games for a Drummondville team that finished third in their division.
He showed up at the Lightning’s prospect development camp (the third that Gauthier has attended) a little heavier as he prepares to deal with the much more physical AHL competition. He envisions his role as a power forward, and knows that strength will play just as important of a role as skill if he wants to succeed.
Gauthier had a solid development camp and preseason, but has been in and out of the line-up for the Crunch so far this season. His work ethic hasn’t translated to a lot of points (just one assist in six games), but he has been doing his thing defensively. He’s probably going to get the full season in Syracuse as he continues his adjustment to the professional game, but as for his long-term role with the organization, he profiles to be a middle-six forward that can participate on special teams both as a penalty-killer, and on a power-play unit.
Highlight Videos:
It’s not a vicious forecheck that creates the turnover to set up the goal, but it is a really nice bit of timing and spacing by Gauthier to lift the stick and get the puck to Declan Carlile for the shot and goal.
It’s a similar play here, where he uses his stick to create the turnover and then turns to attack. The shot is picture perfect against a goaltender who drops to the butterfly way too early. Gauthier has a really accurate wrister that should play well at the NHL level.
This is the easiest goal for Gauthier in this quick set of highlights, but the play he makes a long the wall creates the turnover. It’s a nice hit along the boards to create a little separation and then he just goes to a spot where his teammate can find him for the tap-in.
🚨 What a goal by Ethan Gauthier (#79 in black)! He strips the puck away from the defenseman and finishes on the backhand shorthanded for his 24th goal of the QMJHL season!#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/X147gfFYs5
— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) March 15, 2025
Pure thievery to gain the puck and an absolute delicate backhander for the goal. This is the tenacity and skill that makes him such an intriguing prospect.